Cranston Trophy

Presented by Sir Robert Cranston, a Lord Provost of Edinburgh 1903-1906 to the Scottish Ladies' Chess Association in the year of its formation, 1905. On the amalgamation of this body with the SCA in 1921, the cup became the property of that association. It is an individual competition confined to lady members of the SCA, no handicaps being allowed.
(Glasgow Herald chess column, 10 May 1924, p. 4)

After the demise of the Stirling Ladies' Chess Club, it was played for yearly by a representative from each of the remaining Ladies' clubs, Glasgow and Edinburgh. It comprised of a match of three games.

The Edinburgh Ladies' Chess Club closed in 1967. The trophy continued to be competed for by independent lady players.

The Glasgow Ladies' Chess Club closed in 1989.

WINNERS (1905-1943)

EL - Edinburgh Ladies'
GL - Glasgow Ladies'
SL - Stirling Ladies'

There is no recorded winner for 1918, 1919 and 1946.

The engraving on the trophy shows the 1927 winner as J.C. Thomson. The Glasgow Herald chess column of 16 April 1927, page 4, indicates that 'Mrs J.F. Thomson, of the Glasgow Ladies' C.C., retains the Cranston Trophy...'